Whitewater Rafting

Whitewater Rafting

Whitewater Rafting (etc.)

•Popularity

•Safety

•Policies

•Programs

•Resources

Number ages 6 + years participating at least once

Popularity:

Number ages 6 + years participating at least once Ages 6 -17 years participating at least once

Popularity:

Popularity:Representative states with councils offering rafting programs

(may not include all instances)

6 per raft

x 3.6

53,851 rafters

544,494 miles

Popularity:

Safety:

Safety:

Policy:Cub Scout activities afloat are limited to

council, district, pack, or den events that

do not include moving water or float trips

(expeditions).

Policy:Operation of any boat on a float trip is

limited to youth and adults who have

completed the BSA swimmer classification

test.

Policy:Everyone in an activity afloat must have sufficient

knowledge and skill to participate safely. Passengers

should know how their movement affects boat

stability and have a basic understanding of self-

rescue. Boat operators must meet government

requirements, be able to maintain control of their

craft, know how changes in the environment

influence that control, and undertake activities only

that are within their personal and group capabilities.

Qualified Supervision

Personal Health Review

Swimming Ability

Life Jackets

Buddy System

Skill ProficiencyPlanning

Equipment

Discipline

Unit trips on

whitewater sections of rivers rated Class IV are only

allowed in rafts with a professionally trained guide in

each raft.

Self-guided unit trips on Class III whitewater may only

be done after all participants have received American

Canoe Association or equivalent training for the class

of water and type of craft involved.

Policy:

Up to Class II

Class III

Class IV

Class V (+)Trips above Class IV are not allowed.

Injuries while swimming are rare; self-

rescue is usually easy but group assistance

may be required to avoid long swims.

Swims are dangerous, and rescue is often

difficult even for experts.

Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to

high, and water conditions may make self-

rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is

often essential but requires practiced skills.

United States Geologic Survey

Policy:

. . . Properly designed and fitted helmets must be

worn when running rapids rated Class II and above. . .

Qualified Supervision

Personal Health Review

Swimming Ability

Life Jackets

Buddy System

Skill Proficiency

Planning

EquipmentDiscipline

Programs & Training:

Programs & Training:

• Limited to Class II or less

• Limited to canoes or kayaks

•Canoeing or Kayaking MB prerequisite

Programs & Training:

•River modules limited to Class II

•Basic module prerequisite

• Intro

• River primer

• Flow rates

• Flow types

• Paddling in uniform currents

• Going ‘round the bend

• Flowing water hazards

• Whitewater features

• Whitewater classifications

• Scouting rapids

• When problems occur

• Trip preparationhttps://vimeo.com/342035469

• Side slips

• Ferries

• Eddy turns

Float Trips Needs:• Experience

• Float plan

• Lead boat

• Sweep boat

✓ Communication

✓ Scouting

✓ Portaging

Self-guided unit trips on Class III whitewater

may only be done after all participants have

received American Canoe Association or

equivalent training for the class of water and

type of craft involved.

https://www.americancanoe.org/page/Courses

https://www.americancanoe.org/page/Courses

https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/aquatics/

Float Trip:

• Bus leaves

from parking

lot at 1:00 pm

• Bring ….

Questions: